Kol Hillel: Summer 2017

KOL HILLEL

THRIVE

Scheck Hillel Community School

Summer 2017 - 5777 ‫קיץ‬

KOL HILLEL Scheck Hillel Community School’s Biannual Magazine

2016-2017 BOARD OF GOVERNORS Carlos Berner-Chair Marty Scheck*-Vice Chair Marcos Singer*-Treasurer Uri Benhamron-Secretary David Wolf*-Immediate Past Chair Susana Abbo Joe Ackerman Michelle Amselem* Silvia Assor Mijael Attias Lia Brod Max Fischbach JoAnn Froimzon Anita Givner - HIP/PTA Chair Eliane Kravetz Isaac Marcushamer Rafael Russ - Past Chair Ronit Shiro

EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION Dr. Ezra Levy Vanessa Donaher

Craig Carpentieri Dr. Monica Wagenberg

Shani Biton

Joshua Meisels*

Orly Dromi Eileen Ginzburg Dr. Helen Chaset

Head of School Associate Head of School, Head of Ben Lipson Upper School, Director of College Counseling Chief Academic Officer Head of Juda and Maria Diener Lower School Director of Juda and Maria Diener Lower School Director of Samuel and Henrietta Scheck Middle School Early Childhood Education Coordinator Director of Special Programs Director of Professional Development

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*Alumnus/alumna

LION CONNECT WITH SCHECK HILLEL COMMUNITY SCHOOL INSTAGRAM @eHillel FACEBOOK @ScheckHillelCommunitySchool YOUTUBE @ScheckHillelCommunitySchool SMUGMUG @eHillel

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[thrah 1. to gro 2. to

Thrive

hyv] verb (used without object) ow or develop well or vigorously grow or develop successfully 3. to flourish or succeed

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Blog Documents Learning & Leadership

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Scheck Hillel’s Student Leadership & Learning Blog, a digital platform for Grades 6-12, features personal journeys within topics like scientific discovery, community collaboration, STEM, social entrepreneurship, creative design and tikkun olam. Recent posts were published by David Lechter (Grade 9-”Weather Station Project”), Jonathan Abbo (Grade 10, “Happy”) and Rachelle Murciano (Grade 11- “Soccer for Good”). For stories, videos and photos throughout the year, visit eHillel.org/leadershipblog.

Hands-On Learning Research has shown that hands-on activities engage students, develop a love of learning and connect abstract concepts to the real world. In science experiments, Lower School students applied the scientific method to test hypotheses, including observing, touching and manipulating materials in a systematic way. In Jacqueline Kapnek’s Grade 6 math class, finding pi in everyday items was an amusing way to make sense of the most famous irrational number. These are examples of how hands-on learning activities provide tangible evidence of thinking and reasoning.

Motion, Emotion Permeate Design Projects

In a design-oriented school culture, students approach problems with open minds. After conducting research among Early Childhood Education teachers, Grade 6 Design/STEM students in Sabrina Ferster’s and Elana Lazar’s classes created sensory storybooks for Scheck Hillel’s youngest students. The large-format “touch and feel” books allow readers to interact with rough, smooth, bumpy and prickly surfaces, stimulating the senses as they read.

In Grade 8, students incorporated “Little Bits,” electronic building blocks, into designs ranging from windmills to cool life hacks. A healthy dose of trial and error brought home the key design concept of iteration.

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Roar Post Matures, Cub Call is Born Two student-led journalism initiatives -The Roar Post (Grades 6-12) and Cub Call (Grades 1-5) - are giving voice to student interests and talents while incubating communication leaders and innovators. Since its inception three years ago, the student-initiated Roar Post has matured into a crosschannel news organization, covering events and developing content for an audience of peers and community members.

It’s now published through the school’s new Journalism course within the Upper School English department, sharpening investigative and editorial skills. Cub Call is the brainchild of Jake Kravetz (Grade 3), who led the paper’s first meeting in the I Lab. Come August, it will feature events and people making a difference in Lower School.

From Passion to Action

Clubs provide opportunities to explore new worlds, deepen knowledge and develop leadership and advocacy skills. From Kindergarten through Grade 12, students pursue and create excitement around them. A case in point is the Tech Club, formed by students who wish to explore careers in technology entrepreneurship. Middle School’s Chesed Club is a vibrant hub for community service; recently, members used patterns and fabric to make shoes for children in Uganda. Another club, led by Lower School teacher Jennifer Alon, teaches American Sign Language. Students are encouraged to speak with teachers or counselors to share ideas for new or current clubs.

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The Shuk If it’s trending, it can be found at The Shuk: Scheck Hillel’s Grade 3 to 5 student-run store. Children flock to this modern-day bazaar to buy branded school supplies and collectible items. Proceeds are invested back into the Shuk program and also help fund internal teaching grants for special projects.

Scheck Hillel Hosts Robotics Festival

Scheck Hillel hosted CAJE’s (Center for Advancement in Jewish Education) first Annual International Robotics Festival: a collaboration among the Yerucham Israel Science Center, CAJEMiami and three Miami Jewish day schools - Hebrew Academy, Lehrman and Scheck Hillel. The festival capped a year of innovative STEM education tailored to Grades 3 and 4. The Miami Jewish Day Schools Robotics Program is funded through a grant from the Miami/Yerucham Partnership and facilitated by CAJE, an agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

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Scheck Hillel marked the 10-year anniversary of a generous gift that transformed the school’s art program into a cornerstone of the Scheck Hillel student experience. Thanks to the Jordan Alexander Ressler Arts Program, Scheck Hillel students, 18 months through Grade 12, are inspired to discover their talents and chase their dreams. Jordan’s legacy can be seen in these images, representing more than 1,000 students who benefit from a rich arts education during and beyond the school day. Examples of these talented students include Matt Levine (‘17), who earned an “Excellent” for his snare drum solo in the FBA State Solo & Ensemble adjudication, and Leehie Bortman, also a Class of ‘17 graduate, for winning the 2017 Silver Knight Award-Honorable Mention for Digital & Interactive Media. The Miami Herald Silver Knight Awards is one of the nation’s most highly regarded student awards programs.

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On opening night of “Beauty and the Beast, Jr,” student artist Simy Bentata (‘17), who will study industrial design at New York’s Pratt Institute in the fall, presented Jordan Alexander Ressler’s grandmother, Mrs. Judith Lindenfeld, with one of her original pieces to express Scheck Hillel’s gratitude for all that Jordan’s family has done to enrich the arts and create student opportunity.

Matt Levine

Leehie Bortman

Simy Bentata

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HECK HILLEL C S

CLASS OF 2017

Daniel Abadi Chocron Sante Fe College

Claudio Bentata Bentley University

Patrick Dolman University of Miami

Victoria Joels Florida International University

Sabrina Abadi-Malca Ari Weis Abbo David Stuart Abrams Indiana University Florida International University Champlain College

Simy Bentata Pratt Institute

Moises Doron Boston College

Marianne Kamhazi Stern College for Women

Harrison Julio Savannah Maria Massingill Miami International Grosfeld Mizraji University of Art & Design University of Miami

Ben Shayner Santa Fe College

Daniel Berkman University of Miami

Joshua Bonwitt Tulane University

Audrey Clara Elfassy Jaime Fascowich Young Judaea Year Course Northeastern University

Andres Kiblisky Indiana University

Justin Rok Moskovitz Florida State University

Jacky Klainbaum-Ivcher University of Miami

Mazal tov to Scheck Hillel

Osher Abuhav University of Miami

Karina Aserraf Tufts University

Leehie Bortman Florida International University

Natalie Broide University of Florida

Avi Paul Bryan University of Central Florida

Sandra Feld University of Miami

Rebecca Fiske Indiana University

Daniel Franco University of Michigan

Alejandro Klimberg New York University

David Menachem Oliel Larissa Ramuth Concordia University University of Connecticut

Yvette Simhon Ian Stern Sarah Waxman Miami Dade College Pennsylvania State University New York University

Gabriela Acherman Florida International University

Natalie Koenig Grimberg Miami International University of Art & Design

Aby Redensky Santa Fe College

Maya Adel Lalo IDC Herzliya

Oscar Rimeris Northeastern University

Vera Weinberger Jonathan Weiss Abigail Penina Winograd Florida Atlantic University Young Judaea Year Course University of Georgia

l’s Class of 2017 and families!

Daniel Isaac Assor Babson College

Ethan Ayache Wheelock College

Aryeh Bachar Undecided

CLASS OF 2017

Steven Beda University of Miami

Yomtov Bejar Babson College

Moises Bendahan Sante Fe College

Tamar Raquel Benhamu Cohen Florida International University

Steven Harris Budman University of Miami

Gabriella Chehebar Babson College

Alex Andrew Fraynd Florida State University

Eduardo Friedman Young Judaea Year Course

Sion David Cherem University of Miami

Maya Cohen University of Florida

Raquel Gabay Bentolila Dana Graff Omree Amram Miami International University of Florida Gedalya Gottlieb University of Art & Design University of Central Florida

Josef Leizerowitz University of Salford, UK

Matt Levine University of Miami

Shanna Lewinsky University of Miami

Robert Rogatinsky California State University at Northridge

Rosa V. Rostoker Miami International University of Art & Design

Motti Rotenstein Broward College

Jordana Sarah Zackon Washington University in St. Louis (Valedictorian)

Roey Zaken Undecided

Alexandra Sarah Wolf University of Texas

Alan Mauricio Chocron Saias University of Michigan

Rochelle Brooke Lieberman Ivan Lindenfeld University of Florida New York University

Eliana Ray Savir Bar-Ilan University

Shayna Brittni Cohen Stern College for Women

Joshua Diener Tulane University

Natalie Hayun Bar-Ilan University

Charles Samuel Israel University of Miami

Cory Noah Mars University of Arizona

Eithan D. Martinez Abramovitz Georgia Tech

Akiva David Schechter Danielle Hannah Scheck New World School of the Arts University of Michigan (Salutatorian)

Michelle Zyman Chassab Florida International University

Mijael Shapiro Syracuse University

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Busy Summer Ahead for Subject-Matter Experts

Sharing Expertise While school is out for summer, students, faculty and staff will share expertise in forums in the U.S. and abroad. Betty Salinas, Director of Admissions, will present at the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP) Annual Institute in California. ESOL teacher Dr. Beatrice Schnell-Anzola will present a paper at the XVIII Congreso Internacional De La Asociación de Lingüística Y Filología de América Latina in Bogota, Colombia. A cadre of students shared tech accomplishments, along with I Lab Instructor Nancy Penchev, at the Superior Tech 4 Teachers Conference in Clearwater, FL: Ellie Esquenazi, Eva Gelb, Shalom Lev Meisels, Zoe Schrager and Jessica Waxenghiser (all rising Grade 6) and Pola Levy (rising Grade 7). Nancy Penchev (I Lab Instructor), Jenna Kraft (Lower School General Studies Teacher) and students Ariella Bitton (rising Grade 6), Ellie Esquenazi and Jake Kravetz (rising Grade 4) will present at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference in San Antonio, TX. Finally, Ms. Penchev will present at the Upstate Technology Conference in Greenville, SC. Some of our student presenters are pictured above.

Future Ready Great teachers learn together. Professional development days feature teacher-led sessions on a range of topics aimed at instruction schoolwide.

Learning to Learn The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded Scheck Hillel a grant through Edcamp to equip Grade 3-4 classrooms with specialized Lego kits. These resources use the power of Lego to develop learning skills through play. Parents collaberated at home, and students taught peers back on campus. This is one of the several grants awarded to faculty last year.

Innovation Council Applies Student-Centered Design The Ben Lipson Upper School Innovation Council (pictured above, left) is a volunteer body of faculty and students charged with redesigning the current Berta and Isaac Berezdivin Library Media Center. The space is being transformed over the summer into a contemporary, flexible learning space.

Author Pens Reflection About Scheck Hillel Students Scheck Hillel’s Upper School Modern Jewish History class was treated to a presentation by Ethan J. Hollander, Ph.D., professor of political science at Wabash College and author of Hegemony and the Holocaust: State Power and Jewish Survival in Occupied Europe. Professor Hollander’s visit to Yehudis Benhamou’s class prompted the message to the right:

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Scheck Hillel National Merit Scholarship Tradition Continues

"We congratulate Keith, Nathalie, Roy and Max, and their families, for this most prestigious accomplishment," said Dr. Ezra Levy, Scheck Hillel's Head of School. "With stellar academic success like this, along with their service to community, core values and strong Jewish identity, these students beautifully exemplify our rising generation. We are incredibly proud of them and are grateful for the partnership shared by our dedicated families and faculty."

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Rising seniors (Class of 2018) Keith Bonwitt, Max Peicher, Roy Glazer and Nathalie Fuhrman have been named qualifying honorees in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship® competition. These students are some of the country’s highest-scorers of the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) out of approximately 1.5 million students, nationwide.

Alumni Now 1990s

Mazal tov to Nicole and Jordan Kavana, ‘96, upon the birth of their daughter, Chloe! Proud grandparents are Evelyn & Dr. Shmuel Katz and Sara & Joseph Kavana.

Mazal tov to Raquel (Amselem) Gean, ‘08, and Abraham Gean upon the birth of their daughter, Ofra Eliana. Proud grandparents are alumna Michelle & Dr. Shalom Amselem and Ofra & Meir Gean.

Mazal tov to Melissa and Isaac Lekach, ‘98, upon the birth of their daughter, Aerin Dahlia! Proud grandparents are Roma & Sarita Lekach and Tammy & Eduardo Porteny.

Jaime Mendal, ‘08, was elected Golden Beach’s youngest town council member. What an incredible accomplishment.

Mazal tov!

Mazal tov to alumna Nicole (Worthalter) and David Sutton, ‘98, upon the birth of their daughter, Francine!

Proud grandparents are Hannah & Dr. Peysaf Worthalter and Francine & Ed Aronowitz.

Lydia (Azout) Blue, ‘09, and Jordan Blue were married in March. Lydia is the daughter of Diani Abitbol and Jack Azout, and Jordan is the son of Abbe Blue. Mazal tov!

2000s Mazal tov to Dana (Haim) Gilinsky, ‘01, and Jaron Gilinsky, upon the birth of their son, Orion Isaac! Proud grandparents are Fanny & David Haim and Susan & Dr. Michael Gilinsky.

Janine Berenson, ‘06, and Dr. Isaac Chinitz were married in February. Janine is the daughter of Diana & Steven Berenson, and Isaac is the son of Shari & Dr. Marvin Chinitz. Mazal tov!

Isaac Perlman, ‘10, and Zina Dornbusch were married in March. Isaac is the son of Jeannette & Steven Perlman, and Zina is the daughter of Dina & Harry Dornbusch. Mazal tov!

Jonathan Allen, ‘15, was elected Speaker of the Legislature at the University of Maryland, one of five executives (and the youngest) in the organization. Mazal tov!

Mazal tov to alumna Jolie (Whitebook) Rivner and Dr. Harold Rivner upon the birth of their daughter, Emmy Rose! She joins big sister Eva (PKT). Proud grandparents are alumna Hedy & Danny Whitebook and Roberta & Michael Rivner.

We welcome all alumni to contact the office of Alumni Relations with your news and accomplishments since your years at Scheck Hillel.

You can reach us at alumni@eHillel.org.

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Ofra Eliana Gean

Orion Gilinsky

Aerin Lekach

The Class of 2007 celebrates its 10th reunion on campus.

Francine Sutton

Q&A With Moshe Weinstein (‘95), CEO of Biotech Start-Up Moebius Medical Wherever they live or work, Scheck Hillel alumni are driven by their talents and Jewish core values. Keep up with our distinguished graduates through Lion’s Share, the Upper School’s publication, to read profiles of the alumni and more at eHillel.org/AlumniSpotlight.

Where do you live at the moment?

I live in Tel Mond, near Tel-Aviv, Israel, with my wife and two children.

What educational path did you pursue after Scheck Hillel?

I have moved around a lot since graduating from Scheck Hillel! I spent a year in yeshiva in Israel, and decided to extend for another year to serve in the IDF as a medic in a combat unit. I then returned to the U.S. to complete my undergraduate degree at Yeshiva University. My first job out of college brought me back to Israel, where I worked first at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and later at SodaStream.

After seven years in the workplace, I decided to go back to school to pursue a Master’s in international business administration at INSEAD, a top-tier global business school, and lived in Singapore for two years while completing it. My second child was born there, the first was born in Israel. I then went to work for Novartis, a pharmaceutical company, in New Jersey, where I spent 7 years in various positions in business development and marketing, both for the US division and the Latin American division. My last position in Novartis took me and the family on a 2-year relocation assignment to Costa Rica, where I was in charge of marketing and sales in Central America and Caribbean for Novartis’s hematology drugs.

What is your advice for future Scheck Hillel students who might consider a career in your field?

Travel the world and learn other cultures. I have visited more than 80 countries, and I try to connect with the Jewish community wherever I go.

Try to use every summer to pursue an internship in an area of interest to you, or to perform community service. I worked at a Jewish camp in Russia, an experience that helped me appreciate my own life back in the U.S. What is the last book or podcast that taught you something you didn’t know before?

I enjoy the “Freakonomics” podcasts…

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Where do you work currently?

I am CEO of Moebius Medical, a start-up biotechnology company in Israel. The most pressing need when I came on board was to find a partner to fund and run clinical trials for a new drug-developed in Israel-to treat the pain caused by osteoarthritis. In December of 2016, we signed an exclusive global licensing deal with Sun Pharmaceuticals (an Indiabased global pharmaceutical company) to further develop our pain product for osteoarthritis. Even though I’ve worked the past 10 years in the pharma industry, my background is in business administration and marketing, so those are the skills that I bring to bear in this venture.

What is most rewarding about the work you do? To have gotten such a big partner behind us, and to be able to push this forward as fast and efficiently, is very rewarding. I enjoy working with a global team, acting as the link among brilliant professionals from the US, India and Israel.

What is one essential academic or life skill you honed at Scheck Hillel?

Thanks to a great group of Judaic Studies teachers, we were allowed to question and to look for the reasoning behind the subjects we were learning. We were encouraged to think and approach things logically, and not just accept things blindly. I also appreciated that I was encouraged to pursue the Westinghouse Science Talent Search (now called the Science Talent Search), a nationwide contest for which I was semifinalist.

Moshe Weinstein (‘95) (L), with India’s ambasssador to Israel (R).

Happiness is...Giving A community bound by shared traditions came together in many ways throughout the year to benefit Scheck Hillel’s Kulanu Scholarship Fund, Scheck Hillel’s tuition assistance program that makes a Jewish education possible for nearly 20% of the school’s students. Generations celebrated at school, cheered on students at the Fun Run in December, learned about happiness from Dr. Tal Ben Shahar at the Annual Event in March, and participated in Kulanu Awareness Month activities led by faculty and families throughout May. Thank you to all! A generous community is a happy, thriving community.

Look for the annual Honor Roll digital magazine in your inbox this summer: a complete listing of all contributors helping Scheck Hillel grow - today and for years to come.

HIP/PTA The amazing volunteers of HIP/PTA enriched Scheck Hillel with new projects this year - such as CPR training and monthly conversations with parents and administrators - and reprised Mishloach Manot and Chopped to benefit Kulanu, student programs and campus enhancements. HIP/PTA is happiness in action!

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2016-2017 HIP/PTA Board Anita Givner - Chair Susy Abbo - Immediate Past Chair Sheryl Podgorowiez* - Vice Chair Ivette Behar - Treasurer HIP/PTA Working Committee Leanne Cohen Erica Farago* Anat Garzon Evelyn Marcushamer Jennifer Naim Malka Rodrig* Flavia Romay Gabrielle Schpilberg* Dana Schrager* *Alumnus/alumna

2017-2018 Board of Governors Installed With gratitude, we recognize outgoing Board of Governors Chair Carlos Berner, who worked tirelessly for three years to lead Scheck Hillel in partnership with fellow lay leaders, school administration and the extended community. Thank you to outgoing Board members Susy Abbo, Joe Ackerman and Rafael Russ (Chair 2010-2012). Welcome and congratulations to the incoming Board and thank you for your commitment to sustaining and strengthening Scheck Hillel as one of the finest Jewish schools.

Michelle Amselem* Anita Givner - HIP/PTA Chair Marty Scheck* - Chair Silvia Assor Eliane Kravetz Uri Benhamron - Vice Chair Mijael Attias Isaac Marcushamer Marcos Singer* - Treasurer David Bassan Jennifer Naim Ronit Shiro - Secretary Lia Brod Jackie Nichols Carlos Berner - Immediate Past Chair Max Fischbach Maxim Weitzman JoAnn Froimzon *Alumnus/alumna

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JEREMY WHITE, MD Cosmetic Surgery Specialist Aventura, FL (305) 501-2000

AVENTURA LASER & ELECTROLYSIS SPA Judith Kornik, CME

Edith Anidjar Cosmetic and General Dermatology

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19000 NE 25th Avenue North Miami Beach, Florida 33180